I have noticed lately a lot of regular visits to my blog from Mountain View CA. To the lower right of my sidebar I have a Feedjit feed which shows where my visitors are from. I find it interesting that people from all over the world are viewing my ramblings…ha ha.
Just wanted to give a shout out to who ever you are from Mountain View CA! Hello! Thanks for reading - and checking out a variety of posts from all the way back when I started this blog in 2006, through my various moves, and adoption process. Lots of crazy things have happened in the last 7 years!
Would love to know what you think, and hear your comments and feedback Mountain View CA person! You've spent a lot of time reading… let me know what you think! Oh - and Thanks for visiting!
We got a pair of these
Industrial Ear Muffs (aka Noise Reduction Headphones) at
Harbor Freight Tools for our son who is almost 5 and has
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). They are adjustable and fit his head well, and fit mine too. They work pretty well considering the low cost!! Worth getting a few pairs - maybe for school and home.
These are great for kids or adults with sensory issues, autism, asperger's syndrome , etc.
The photo above is a picture of the flyer we received. However their website shows you can buy them in store or online. Sale is today April 30, 2013 until Monday May 13, 2013 - My coupon says "Limit 8". Online Coupon Code 65141133
BE SURE TO PIN THIS TO YOUR SENSORY/AUTISM PINTEREST BOARDS, AND SHARE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER - TO SHARE WITH OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES!
On this day, 4 years ago, my husband and I arrived home from Seoul, S. Korea….exhausted from the 14 hour flight, the time change and the trip of a lifetime. We brought home our first and only child thanks to the blessing of adoption!
I can hardly believe 4 years has flown by. It seems like yesterday they placed my son in my arms and I fell in love with this precious little one. So much has happened since we became a family. Our son has grown so much, overcome so many challenges and has become a strong, healthy little man.
Our little guy is super intelligent - advanced for 4.5 years old we have been told. He is starting to read, doing basic addition and subtraction, is very mechanically inclined and quick witted. He loves music, singing and dancing, (Psy's Gangnam Style and LMFAO Party Rock are his favorites ha ha!) , loves computers, legos, riding his bike and playing at the park. He struggles with sensory issues, and some social cues, but he always makes friends easily despite those challenges and always makes people laugh and smile. All in all - he is the light of my life and the biggest blessing ever.
Happy 4 years home to my little buddy…you made us a family and make me a proud mama every single day.
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Below is something I posted in April 2010, when my son was home from Korea just a year. I recently came across this again and wanted to share it again today, since it's such a special day for my family. This was written before my son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD….which makes it a bit more special to me, knowing what I know now about the challenges he faces.
This was a "Thursday Thirteen" Meme (I'm not sure if they're still doing these?) Anyway…here it is
Just some random thoughts today, as I sit and watch my little boy play. He is almost 2 years old but sometimes when I see the look of wonder and determination on his little face, I get a glimpse of the young man he will some day become. My eyes mist over, my heart swells and I think of all the things I want him to experience, all the things I want for him in life.
So for Thursday Thirteen---
I came up with
13 Things I Want For You, My Son
- To know the unconditional bond of true friendship.
- To experience the angst and joy of first love and the pain of first heartbreak.
- To feel really small when you appreciate the enormity of the ocean, the Grand Canyon and our world. Marvel at God's creations and praise Him.
- To learn the sting of humility when you fail or make a mistake - but never give up, always give it your best shot.
- To be honest, be compassionate and giving, even when no one notices.
- To be kind, polite and loving. Be gentle and respectful with others, especially women, your elders and animals.
- To not be afraid to take risks, to try new things, to travel to unfamiliar places.
- To stand up for what you believe in. Even if sometimes it means you stand alone.
- To appreciate that you are different. You are God's unique, amazing, beautiful work of art. Embrace your individuality. Appreciate and tolerate this in others, too.
- To set goals and work hard for them. But take time to rest and play and to savor the little things in life and precious time with loved ones.
- To find your soulmate and share all of life's adventures with them.
- To learn about your history, your culture and to visit your country of birth*. To know that you were and are so wanted and so loved and we are a forever family.
- To know the joy, pain, pride, fears and ultimate love of being a parent. To hold an infant in your arms and know instantly that you would give your life to protect this tiny creature.
*Our precious son was adopted at 10 months old from S. Korea.
We all want to look our best and have
white teeth and fresh breath. At least I know I do!
(There are some people I would like to give a hint that they could really use to step up their dental hygiene game! Ha!) Anyway - There are so many products on the market to
whiten your teeth that it can be confusing as to what really works and what doesn't and what you should try.
I recently was invited to try
Smile Brilliant's home LED Teeth Whitening Kit. I asked my husband to try this out and be my test subject. He has some staining from coffee and tea and really needed to brighten his smile. My dentist (who is also my former employer and my husband's dentist as well) previously said it was safe for my husband to whiten his teeth but we moved away and hubby never got the chance. So this was a great opportunity for him.
About Smile Brilliant LED Whitening Kit
The kit comes with the following items:
- High intensity Ultra-Blue LED activating light (batteries included)
- Protective trays(top & bottom)
- 4ml Professional whitening gel pen (22% concentration)
AND - For customers, with this kit, the company gives :
- 30 Day money back guarantee
- Life-time tray replacement warranty
The instructions are very easy and clear to understand. You basically clean your teeth, then apply a healthy amount of whitening gel with the handy gel pen onto the teeth. Then you place the protective trays on the teeth to keep the gel in place. Then you turn on the light transmitter and put it in your mouth. The light is designed to accelerate the whitening process. You can whiten in as little as 20 minutes a day. If you are comfortable doing so, and have heavy staining you can wear the trays anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. (From my time working in the dental field - I have to say - you may want to check with your dentist to be sure you are a candidate for whitening first - especially if you have any dental health issues. Using toothpaste for sensitive teeth/gums is helpful when you're in a period of teeth whitening also.)
Our Experience with Smile Brilliant
My husband said the whitening gel had virtually no taste. The trays were a little lightweight, but he felt like they did the job keeping the gel on his teeth. He had only very slight sensitivity in the gums during whitening but this went away. He felt the trays, the light, were comfortable - he had no issues using them, while watching TV. We are not really sure how much the light really helped or if it was simply the gel doing the work - but the kit DID work. He did the whitening every few days over 2 weeks. (You can do this daily or every other day. Our schedule is just hectic with a child who has some special needs and with travel) Below is a before and after photo. All in all - his teeth came several shades lighter. He is still going to finish using the gel included over the next week and get his teeth a bit lighter. I was pleased with his results too! Overall - we think this product is priced well at $39.99 and is worth trying.
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| BEFORE WHITENING (attractive, huh? LOL) |
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AFTER - 6 sessions at 30-40 mins. over 2 weeks. (Much better!)
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OK Now for the GIVEAWAY!!! You can win ONE - SmileBrilliant LED Whitening Kit. It's very simple and very easy.
OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF U.S. & CANADA WHO ARE 18 AND OLDER. PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW. THE FIRST OPTION - LEAVING A COMMENT - IS MANDATORY TO ENTER. *** PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT **** THE OTHER OPTIONS ARE ADDITIONAL ENTRIES.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was given a free LED Whitening kit from SmileBrilliant to try, and to share my results - whatever they may be. I was not required to give a positive review nor did I receive any other compensation. Individual results may vary. Retrogirl.net not responsible for results or issues or anything at all, whatsoever - from any person's use of this product. It is always recommended that you read the product ingredients, description and information about possible allergens before using and contact manufacturer with any questions or concerns. You may wish to ask your dentist if you are a whitening candidate before using this product or any whitening products.
Spring sure is taking its sweet time arriving this year! We have had roller coaster weather lately - one day in the 20s with high winds and 45 degrees and sunny the next, and even a few 50+ degree nice days.
It was sunny and feeling nice yesterday. The feel of spring motivated me to do something I've been wanting to do for a while now. I have talked about selling my old Trek mountain bike for some time. It is one that was a gift from a relative of my ex, who owned a high end bike shop. It really didn't have a lot of miles on it but I just really never liked it much. So, I sold it to a local bike shop and took the money and went and bought myself something a bit more my style.
It's the Panama Jack Cruiser by Huffy. I fell in love with it! It is so retro and so cute. It's a manual bike, with old school manual brakes (aka your feet, and the pedal). The details are so awesome - the faux woodgrain handle grips, the cup holder, pouch to carry stuff, and the rack on the back. Love the tropical floral accents, the white wall tires and the old school seat. It rides like a charm!
I went bike riding with my 4.5 year old son yesterday for the first time. It was so much fun, and such an amazing feeling! Before, he would ride his little bike on the sidewalk out front and I would just walk beside him. But he is now getting really fast and I'm starting to be able to trust him more. (With SPD and ADHD he is very impulsive and will sometimes do inappropriate things - like suddenly dart into the street or be standing there one second and the next - running away as fast as lightning so you have to be on your toes).
It was a joy to get out and enjoy the 45 degree weather with my son and get some exercise. This is just the beginning. I see a great summer ahead of us! We are also putting in an above ground pool this year, so between the bikes and the pool, I think we will have lots of fun and get a lot of exercise.
Incidentally….our spring fling was short lived….no bike riding today. I feel like I'm coming down with bronchitis again and we are being hit with a freak snowstorm that is supposed to go all day today and end tomorrow with somewhere near a foot of snow. WTH?!! March is supposed to be warm, we have perennials starting to peek through the mulch…Where is spring?!
Hurry Mother Nature -- take some Midol and get over it already!! We want SPRING. 50 degrees, sunshine, flowers, BIKE RIDING!!
Winners for the free Purex Plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance were comments #3, 4, 6 as picked at Random.org
#3 - Tracy at Tracy Cotton Pickin Cute
Sent 2 messages and received no response after
several days so a new winner was picked!
#1 - Naomie at http://kidsanddeals.blogspot.com (Notified 3/26/2012)
#4 - Michele P at http://motheroftwoyesposahermosa.blogspot.com
#6 - Helen T at
http://sweepstakesgirl.blogspot.com
Thank you for participating, and posting links! Winners to be notified via email.
Thank you to Purex for sponsoring this giveaway of coupon for 1 free bottle of detergent + softener!
As I have often joked in previous blog posts, I say laundry is my hobby. I say this because I feel that is all I do sometimes, and I only have one child! I can't imagine how much laundry a mom of 4 or 5 kids must have.
I don't think I want to know...
My favorite laundry detergent is
Purex. I have always loved the price - - it's about half the cost of some high profile brands - - Purex has great cleaning power, and I love the fresh scents. I am hooked on Purex Crystals too, I must say.
I got a chance to try the Crystals for free once as a
Purex Insider, and have been hooked ever since. The scent lasts a long time and smells sooooo good!
(I must tell you -- I started using Purex long ago - long before I ever got the opportunity to become an Insider - because of the price. Then I grew to love it more, as they improved the cleaning power, introduced new scents, and new variations of their original detergent. So when the chance to become a Purex insider came up - I jumped on it, since it really is one of my favorite products!!).
Anyway….Purex has done it again. They just made laundry a little easier…which makes my life easier. They have introduced
Purex plus Fabric Softner with Crystals Fragrance. Yes - it has the crystals inside basically!! They have the new Dirt Lift Action in all their soaps as of 2013. This works deep into clothes to get out the dirt, leaving them clean and bright. With the softener built in now - laundry just got a whole lot easier. Less products to buy - means cost savings and to me -- less plastic bottles to recycle. An average family could save over $45 per year using this new Purex plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance. Works for me! That's $45 I can spend on no one but ME! ha ha! (Hmm I could use a new purse…or spend it at the antique shops!!)
I have 3 coupons to give away for a free bottle of Purex detergent plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance!!! (Value up to $6.00)
To Enter - Simply post a link to this blog post on your favorite social media site (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.) and say Win Free Purex Detergent via Retrogirl.net and leave a comment on this post with:
- Your email address
- Link to your social media post
I will pick 3 random winners from comments on this post - On Wednesday March 20th 2013 and notify the winners!
*** OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY ***
ALSO
Purex is having a sweepstakes - One grand prize winner will receive $1000 and a YEAR of FREE Purex plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance. 500 Second Place winners will receive a coupon for free Purex detergent.
TO ENTER -- PLEASE CLICK The link below to visit Purex's sweepstakes page to enter!
*** OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY ***
The Purex Brand Provided me with a sample of Purex Detergent Plus Fabric Softener with Crystals Fragrance in exchange for a product review. Hs as they are introduced, and share my results with you. However, all the opinions expressed here are totally my own.
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